After Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut criticised chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for not knowing what Maharashtra was all about, the BJP has strongly retaliated by saying that one can’t prove patriotism just by writing a few articles and giving bytes to media channels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Sunday laid the foundation stone of a grand memorial to Babasaheb Ambedkar at the Indu Mills compound in the heart of Mumbai, a function boycotted by Shiv Sena, whose Chief Uddhav Thackeray was not invited.
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“Both will continue to hurl abuses at each other in the name of self-pride and dignity”. On the contrary another senior BJP leader has said that Sena would not “dare” to take the extreme decision.
Mumbai: Taking a dig at the ruling allies BJP and Shiv Sena over their constant bickering, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said none of the two parties will quit the coalition government in Maharashtra and they will continue to be at the helm despite the ongoing squabbles between them. “Several leaders of our party had participated in an agitation across the state over farmers’ issues”. All 10 Shiv Sena ministers led by Industries Minister Subhash Desai met Fadnavis after the Cabinet meeting. “Once the Sena quits, at least 17 to 18 Sena legislators will join BJP”, he added.
Pawar also clarified that the NCP would not give support to the BJP now, although his party had extended its support to BJP after the Maharashtra Assembly polls past year.
He criticized the state government for merely making announcements.
Desai, along with transport minister Diwakar Raote, health minister Deepak Sawant and environment minister Ramdas Kadam, met Fadnavis privately after the cabinet meeting to express discomfiture with the BJP’s attitude towards its alliance partner. A source in the Shiv Sena said the meeting was an indication that senior ministers were not in a mood to break away from the government, as it was being speculated.
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“They have disrespected Dr Ambedkar and are trying to teach us patriotism”, he said.
